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The Double Helix by James D. Watson
Contributed by: Barry
  • 1. The Double Helix, written by James D. Watson and published in 1968, is a captivating autobiographical account that chronicles the groundbreaking discovery of the double helical structure of DNA in the early 1950s. In this influential work, Watson provides an intimate and often candid narrative of the scientific journey, detailing his collaboration with fellow scientist Francis Crick, along with the contributions of key figures like Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. The book not only illuminates the complexities and challenges of molecular biology and genetics but also explores the personal dynamics, rivalries, and ethical dilemmas faced by scientists in pursuit of knowledge. Watson's engaging prose brings to life the excitement and urgency of their research, showcasing the interplay between creativity and meticulous scientific effort. Through a blend of science, biography, and memoir, The Double Helix offers readers a fascinating glimpse into the process of scientific discovery and the euphoria of understanding the fundamental mechanisms of life itself.

    What does the double helix structure describe?
A) The structure of DNA
B) The structure of RNA
C) The structure of proteins
D) The structure of lipids
  • 2. What technique was crucial in discovering the structure of DNA?
A) NMR spectroscopy
B) Electrophoresis
C) X-ray crystallography
D) Mass spectrometry
  • 3. What year was the double helix structure of DNA proposed?
A) 1970
B) 1953
C) 1945
D) 1960
  • 4. What is the backbone of the DNA molecule composed of?
A) Sugar and phosphate
B) Nucleotides
C) Amino acids
D) Fatty acids
  • 5. What are the four bases in DNA?
A) Adenine, Uracil, Cytosine, Guanine
B) Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, Ribose
C) Adenine, Thymine, Uracil, Guanine
D) Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, Guanine
  • 6. Which base pairs with Adenine in DNA?
A) Cytosine
B) Uracil
C) Guanine
D) Thymine
  • 7. Which scientist provided critical X-ray diffraction images of DNA?
A) Barbara McClintock
B) Marie Curie
C) Ada Lovelace
D) Rosalind Franklin
  • 8. What shape is the DNA molecule?
A) Circular
B) Triple helix
C) Single strand
D) Double helix
  • 9. Why is DNA described as antiparallel?
A) Strands are identical
B) Strands run in opposite directions
C) Strands are of equal length
D) Strands twist in the same direction
  • 10. What type of bond holds the base pairs together in DNA?
A) Ionic bonds
B) Covalent bonds
C) Hydrogen bonds
D) Metallic bonds
  • 11. What does the term 'complementary base pairing' refer to?
A) The replication of proteins
B) The structure of proteins
C) The base composition of RNA
D) Specific base pairs that match
  • 12. Who published the double helix model first?
A) Mendel and Darwin
B) Watson and Crick
C) Franklin and Wilkins
D) Hershey and Chase
  • 13. What did Watson compare the structure of DNA to?
A) A tree
B) A spiral staircase
C) A straight ladder
D) A circle
  • 14. What term describes the genetic code's simplicity and specificity?
A) Codon
B) Gene expression
C) Punctuated equilibrium
D) Allele
  • 15. What is a nucleotide composed of?
A) A lipid and a sugar
B) A protein and a carbohydrate
C) Two sugars and one phosphate
D) A sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base
  • 16. What is the relationship between DNA and RNA?
A) RNA is synthesized from DNA
B) DNA is synthesized from RNA
C) DNA and RNA are identical
D) RNA is more stable than DNA
  • 17. Which paired bases are connected by three hydrogen bonds?
A) Adenine and Uracil
B) Adenine and Thymine
C) Cytosine and Thymine
D) Guanine and Cytosine
  • 18. Which base pairs with Guanine in DNA?
A) Uracil
B) Adenine
C) Thymine
D) Cytosine
  • 19. What played a significant role in the acceptance of the double helix model?
A) The Hershey-Chase Experiment
B) Photo 51
C) The Tonic Water Experiment
D) The Meselson-Stahl experiment
  • 20. What did Watson and Crick call their model of DNA?
A) The double helix
B) The twisted ladder
C) The double strand
D) The helical model
  • 21. Which Nobel Prize did Watson and Crick later receive?
A) Physics
B) Peace
C) Physiology or Medicine
D) Chemistry
  • 22. In what year was 'The Double Helix' published?
A) 1975.
B) 1968.
C) 1982.
D) 1953.
  • 23. In what form is genetic information stored?
A) In lipids
B) In carbohydrates
C) In proteins
D) In the sequence of bases
  • 24. What term describes the units that make up DNA?
A) Lipids
B) Amino acids
C) Nucleotides
D) Proteins
  • 25. What publication first reported the double helix structure of DNA?
A) Science.
B) Genetics.
C) Cell.
D) Nature.
  • 26. Who received the Nobel Prize alongside Watson and Crick?
A) Hershey and Chase
B) Linus Pauling
C) Rosalind Franklin
D) Maurice Wilkins
  • 27. Which technique did Watson and Crick rely upon for their discovery?
A) Bioinformatics
B) Biochemical assays
C) Mathematical modeling
D) Model building
  • 28. What field of study does 'The Double Helix' primarily relate to?
A) Astrophysics.
B) Ecology.
C) Molecular biology.
D) Microbiology.
  • 29. Who was notably opposed to Watson and Crick's proposal initially?
A) Max Delbrück
B) Maurice Wilkins
C) Linus Pauling
D) Erwin Chargaff
  • 30. Where did Watson and Crick conduct their research?
A) Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge.
B) Rockefeller University.
C) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
D) Johns Hopkins University.
  • 31. What does DNA stand for?
A) Deoxyribonucleotide acid.
B) Deoxynucleotide acid.
C) Deoxyribonucleic acid.
D) Dioxyribonucleic acid.
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